This year’s South Dakota Governor’s Ag Summit in Sioux Falls focused on expanding agricultural markets and processing, plus protecting the food supply. Governor Kristi Noem says the state is targeting the cattle industry and beef processing sector because of the current anti-competitive market practices of meat packers. She says Friday’s Presidential Executive Order and USDA efforts to restore competition to agriculture are a good first step.

However, Noem says she’s also working with other farm state governors and sent a letter to the Department of Justice to urge them to take action against the packing industry.

Noem says more attention needs to be given to the issue to keep cattle producers in business and protect the food supply.

Noem is also concerned about the impact the drought is having in South Dakota and has provided an emergency declaration for haying road ditches and medians. Now they’re waiting for federal assistance including emergency haying and grazing of CRP.